The life and misadventures of a family in contemporary Japan.

The Yamadas are a typical middle class Japanese family in urban Tokyo and this film shows us a variety of episodes of their lives. With tales that range from the humourous to the heartbreaking, we see this family cope with life's little conflicts, problems and joys in their own way.—Kenneth Chisholm <[email protected]>

Join the amusing misadventures of the eccentric Yamada family in this delightfully idiosyncratic tribute to life's minor accomplishments. The tale of the Japanese middle-class household is revealed through a sequence of brilliant comedic scenes, where provider Takashi Yamada, a diligent salaryman, and Matsuko, his forgetful spouse, strive to overcome life's highs and lows. Meanwhile, the duo attempts to tackle marriage and the challenges that come their way. As minor predicaments put the family's resilience to the test, straight-talking grandmother Shige tries to offer everyone guidance. Still, whatever will happen will happen. At the end of the day, Noboru, the Yamadas' 13-year-old son, yearns for more sophisticated parents, and mischievous daughter Nonoko is only five. Nevertheless, that's just the way life is--it's the insignificant, unremarkable moments that carry the most weight.—Nick Riganas